England manager Sam Allardyce has displayed concern for Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart who seems to be an outcast under new manager Pep Guardiola. Addressing his own predicament of filling the goalkeeper’s position for the national team, Allardyce feels it is essential for Hart to regularly be in competitive action if he must stay as England’s first-choice goalkeeper.
To resolve his own doubts, Allardyce has revealed he would talk to Guardiola over Hart’s future at the club.
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Pep Guardialo is interested in replacing The Citizens fan favorite with Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. Furthermore, Guardiola also divulged that he has left it to Hart’s own will to make a choice – stay or leave. As critical as that could mean for England, Allardyce clarified on this issue and made it clear that it would have its implications too.
"Absolutely — eventually, in the end, [playing regularly] is critical for a player. If it's a short period of time, maybe not. Then they come back in the team and everything’s goes fine,” the England manager told reporters.
"If it goes for a longer period of time then I think it's difficult then to select them, based on how they feel, never mind from a training point of view — can they go and play at that level having not played for their own team for a considerable amount of time? So it is a concern.
"I'll go and speak to them about that – Pep and Joe - sooner or later. Certainly when Joe joins us because he'll be in the squad. If I can get the chance to go and see Pep I'd like to listen to him anyway."
Sam Allardyce on England youngsters playing at Manchester City
On asked whether John Stones’ move to Manchester City increases his chances of cementing a place in the England back-line, Allardyce expressed optimism with a dash of seemingly pragmatic nature.
"Potential is something that’s going to be great in the future," he said. "I want it right now — and I think he’s got a great chance of becoming that right now. With all due respect to Everton, working with Manchester City is the level he has to get to because you don't realise [Guardiola] does focus quite a lot on defending."
On Sterling, Allardyce seemed to feel compassionate for his woeful form as he commanded the youngster to raise his game with a word of advice.
He added: "There’s always that time in football where people say that when you have the dip, it’s how well do you overcome it. And when you do overcome it, you then end up being a much better player and generally your career lasts a lot longer after getting through that period.
“So if he's through that period and his talent begins to blossom again... because he’s not at the peak of his career yet. He's 21.”
